Albums: Ahwak, Zalim, Aoloulou

Abdel Halim Hafez (June 21, 1929 – March 30, 1977), was an immensely popular singer and actor in Egypt and the Arab world from the 1950s to the 1970s. His music is still played on radio daily throughout the Arab world. Abdel Halim is considered one of the four greats of 20th century Egyptian and Arabic music, along with Umm Kalthoum, Mohammed Abdel Wahab and Farid el-Atrash.

His most famous songs include Ahwak ("I love you"), Khosara ("A pity"), Gana El Hawa ("Love, come to us"), Sawah ("Wanderer"), Zay el Hawa ("It feels like love"), and El Massih ("The Christ"), among the 260 songs that he recorded. His last, and perhaps most famous, song, Qariat el-Fingan ("The fortune-teller"), featured lyrics by Nizar Qabbani and music by Mohammed Al-Mougy. Abdel Halim's big screen debut was "Sharre' El Hob" ("Love STreet"), in which he starred with Sabah.

He starred in sixteen films, including "Dalilah", which was Egypt's first colored motion picture. Abdel Halim Hafez, born, Abdel Halim Ali Ismail Shabana was a renowned Egyptian singer and actor, from the 1950's to 1970's; know throughout the Middle East as one of the greatest in Arabic music. Abdel Halim Hafez was orphaned from a young age, growing up with his aunt and uncle in Cairo.

His musical talent became apparent from this early age, his first music teacher being his oldest brother Ismail Shabana. He graduated as an oboe player from the Higher Theatrical Music Institute, and went on to sing in various Cairo clubs, his break coming when he had to perform as stand in singer for Kareem Mahmoud, Abdel Halim was heard by Hafez Abd El Wahab, from the Egyptian National Radio who became his patron. Abdel later took on the name 'Hafez', as a stage name in honor of his patron.

From here on Abdel Halim's name grew, his voice captured the nation and reached international audience too, bringing him fame, even after his death from Bilharsia at 47, and a golden plaque amongst the stars of Arabic music. To name a few of his famous songs...'Ahwak', 'Gana El Hawa', 'El Massih', 'Khosara' (from which the producer Timbaland, stole two bars to use in Jay- Z's song 'Big Pimpin'), 'Zay el Hawa' and his most famous 'Qariat el-Fingan' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Abdel Halim Hafez, a great Egytian singerAbdel Halim Hafez, One of the Four Greats of Arabic Music Abdel Halim Hafez is considered one of the four greats of Arabic song, along with Umm Kalthoum, Farid Al Attrach and Mohammed Abdel Wahab.

Hafez was one of the most influential Egyptian musicians of the twentieth century, despite his fairly short career. He was most prominent during the 1950’s and 60’s. Today, more than thirty years after his death in 1977, his music is still played daily on the radio in Egypt and the Arab world.

Abdel Halim Hafez is sometimes known as el-Andaleeb el-Asmar, The Dark Nightingale, because of the combination of his dark skin and resonant voice. The nickname is perhaps doubly appropriate because of the difficult and painful life that he lived. Abdel Halim Hafez’s Youth and Early Career Born in 1929, Abdel Halim Hafez lost both parents at a young age, and was subsequently raised by his aunt and uncle.

At the age of eleven his eldest brother enrolled him in the Arabic Music Institute, where he developed his talent by singing the songs of Mohammed Abdel Wahab, a prominent 20th century Egyptian singer and composer. Hafez later studied at the Higher Institute for Theatre Music, from which he graduated as a classical oboe player. He began his professional musical career as an oboe player, before setting his sights on becoming a singer.

He soon became known for his resonant but mellow voice, subtle vocal style and clean intonation, along with his long, moving vocal phrases. A blogger recently described his voice as “nectar and honeydew”, and it fits. Abdel Halim had his first hit in 1951 and subsequently became a staple on Egyptian radio.

He also appeared in many popular Egyptian films. In 1961 Abdel Halim Hafez partnered with Mohammed Abdel Wahab (whose songs he had grown up listening to) and Magdi el-Amroussi to found an Egyptian recording company called Soutelphan (Voice of the Artist), which continues to operate today under the umbrella of EMI Arabia. Abdel Halim’s Illness, Death and Funeral Abdel Halim had contracted a parasitic water-borne disease called bilharzia when he was eleven years old, and it plagued him periodically and painfully througout his life.

He finally died of the disease in 1977, a few months short of his 48th birthday, while receiving treatment in London. His body was taken back to Cairo for his funeral, which was attended by thousands of people, more than another other funeral in Egyptian history aside from those of President Nasser in 1970 and Umm Kulthoum (another great Egyptian singer) in 1975. He is buried in Al Rifa’i Mosque in Cairo.

Abdel Halim Hafez is considered by some to be the most popular Arab singer of the twentieth century, as he has reportedly sold more discs since his death than any other Arab musician, even Umm Kulthoum. Highlights of Abdel Halim’s Career His most famous songs include Ahwak (”I love you”), Khosara (”A pity”), Gana El Hawa (”Love came to us”), Sawah (”Wanderer”), Zay el Hawa (”It feels like love”), and El Massih (”The Christ”), among the 260 songs that he recorded. His last, and perhaps most famous song, Qariat el-Fingan (”The fortune-teller”), featured lyrics by Nizar Qabbani and music by Mohammed Al-Mougy.

He starred in sixteen films, including “Dalilah”, which was Egypt’s first colored motion picture. In 2006 a feature film about Abdel Halim Hafez’s life, called “Halim”, was released. It starred the immensely popular (and now late) actor Ahmad Zaki in the title role.

The film provides an accurate rendition of Abdel Halim’s life, but is hampered by poor production values.

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